Lord Bach: All quarantine premises are subject to an annual approval inspection by the State Veterinary Service (SVS).
	Following the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a quarantine centre in Essex, Defra required all quarantine premises holding imported captive birds to be inspected by a Veterinary Officer from the State Veterinary Service (SVS).

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Lord Bach on 17 November (Official Report, col. 1299), when they will receive the findings of the review chaired by Professor Nigel Dimmock into the quarantine procedures and arrangements for avian influenza.

Baroness Hooper: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, which was opened for signature in Faro, Portugal, on 27 October; and, if not, when they plan to sign and ratify this convention.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Under the Department of Trade and Industry's technology programme and its predecessors there have been some projects on the production of the fuel and the environmental impacts of production.
	Current projects on production.
	Hyperthermophilic Proteolytic Fermentation to Generate Ethanol as a transport fuel, by British Leather Research, is investigating the production of ethanol from waste proteins and fats. Total value £186,000 grant £93,000
	Biofuel production from plant biomass derived sugars, by TMO Ltd, is investigating the production of ethanol from complex sugars using thermophillic bacteria. Total value £585,000 grant £234,000
	Final reports from past projects on environmental impacts:
	URN 03/836, Carbon and energy balances for a range of biofuels options. Sheffield Hallam University.
	URN 03/982 Technology Status review and carbon abatement potential of renewable transport fuels in the UK. The two reports commissioned by Defra which cover bioethanol:
	Liquid biofuels—prospects and potential impacts on UK agriculture, the farmed environment, landscape and rural economy Central Science Laboratory, 2002
	Liquid biofuels—industry support, cost of carbon savings and agricultural implications Central Science Laboratory, 2003
	As part of the sustainable arable LINK programme, Defra is co-funding with the Scottish Executive an industry-led project which has relevance for bioethanol fuel although it also covers other uses for cereals e.g. for animal feed, alcoholic drinks etc. The research could reduce the energy inputs required for producing feedstock, reduce the cost of the feedstock, and improve the efficiency of the fermentation process—potentially increasing the energy balance of bioethanol production and reducing the cost of bioethanol.
	LK0959—Genetic reduction of energy use and emissions of nitrogen in cereal production. Total value £2.5 million. Grant for biofuel aspect of the project £273,000.
	The Department for Transport has also supported research into the long-term prospects for significant use of biofuels in the transport sector (available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/futuretransport.shtml), and research into the emissions consequences of ethanol blends (available at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft–roads/documents/Page/dft–roads–32579.hcsp).
	EPSRC has one grant that specifically mentions ethanol in this regard
	GR/T28560/01—Radical Kinetics for Combustion Applications, Dr P Seakins, University of Leeds, £867,663.80, started 20 June 2005.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the resolution carried unanimously by the Police Federation for Northern Ireland at its 14th September Annual Conference expressing no confidence in the Office of the Police Ombudsman.